Portable refrigerating device, particularly for air conditioning



Aug, 2, 193. E. s. CATTERLIN 2,125,542

PORTABLE REFRIGERATING DEVICE, PARTICULARLY FOR AIR CONDITIONING Filed Nov. 28, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig. 6 Fig. 2 INVENTOR E Vere rr 5. Buffer/in ATTORNEYS Aug, 2, 1938. E. s. CATTERLIN PORTABLE REFRIGERATING DEVICE, PARTICULARLY FOR AIR CONDITIONING Filed Nov. 28, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 7

INVENTOR F 0 b hw A. 1P a a M w x 2 w 5 w w W 5/5 52b/ 55b 6' 676 68b 94 E verefl 61Caffer/in VMM $5M ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 2, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE REFRIGERATING DEVICE, PAR-' TICULARLY FOR AIR CONDITIONING 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in portable refrigerating devices, particularly for air conditioning, and has for an object the provision of a portable refrigerating system which may be water cooled and readily moved from one portion of a building to another.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a portable refrigerating device of means for preventing the cooling water from leaving the condenser when the device is disconnected from the supply of cooling water for the purpose of moving it to another location.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a separable coupling comprised of two members .each including a multiple valve. One member is secured to the refrigerating device and includes a passage through which the entering cooling water may pass, a second passage through which the used condensing water may flow and the third passage through which condensate from the cooling device may pass.

The other member matches the first member and is adapted to be secured in or to the wallet a room. One of the passages is connected to the water mains and the other two are connected to :pipes leading to the sewer.

When the device is rolled into a room and the two parts or members are secured togethen the passage in the Wall member associated with the ,water supply members up with the passage in the machine member leading the cooling water to the condenser. After the machine has been operating and it is desired to move it to another location, the valves in the two members are closed thereby preventing the leakage of any substantial amount of water when the machine is disconnected from the plumbing or wall fixture.

'With the new and improved connection valve only a few drops of water are spilled.

Still another object of the invention is the provision in an air conditioning system of a valved coupling device comprised of two members, one of which is an integral part of the machine and the other of which is a permanent fixture of the A5 building,.of hand operated means for .quickly associating or disassociating the members'without the necessity of using any tools whatever.

Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a perusal of the specification and the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings; ,Figure Us a prospective view of a portable ai conditioning device, according to the invention, partly broken away, showing the cooling water supply and discharge pipes, the condensate drain pipe and the electrical connections associated with the corner of a room of which one member of the valved coupling device forms an integral and permanent part;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of one form of the new and improved coupling and valve;

Figure .3 is a side elevation of the valved coupling shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an end view of the coupling;

Figure 5 is a top view showing the arrangement of bolts for securing the two members together;

Figure 6 is an elevation similar to that shown in Figure 3 with the exception that instead of bolting the members together they are secured together with cammed clamping levers;

Figure 7 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing the position of the clamping levers when the members of the coupling are secured together;

Figures 8 and 9 are enlarged views of the cammed clamping levers showing details thereof;

Figure 10 is a view of a single valved coupling member provided 'with a suitable closure cap; and

Figure 11 is a sectional view of a coupling member similar to that shown in Figure 2 with the provision of an extra passage which may be adapted to gas-fired refrigerating machines.

The portable air conditioner, designated generally by the numeral 20, consists of a frame 2| mounted on swivel rollers 22 forming a dolly". The frame 2| may be provided with a suitable boss plate 23 forming a support for a compressor 24, a motor 25 and a condenser 26. The motor pulley 21 is attached to the compressor flywheel 28 preferably with the usual V-belt 29.

The compressed refrigerant is discharged into the condenser via the pipe 30 and the lower coil or coils of the condenser may form a receiver for v liquid refrigerant.

. Liquid refrigerant is delivered to an evaporator or cooling coil 3! via a suitable expansion valve (not shown) and the evaporator is connected by return pipe (not shown) to the suction side of the compressor.

The evaporator, or cooling coil, is preferably inclined, as shown, and a suitable fan 32 is provided for forcing air through and over the evaporator 3|. This air becomes cooled and passes out into the room through the grilled opening 33. The blades of the fan 32 are positioned in an opening 34 formed in the plate 35. A suitable connecter cord 36 is provided for leading current to the motor 25 and the fan 32. A drip pan 31 is positioned beneath the evaporator 3| to catch condensed moisture which may drip from the evaporator. A suitable drain pipe 88 is connected to the drip pan 31 preferably near a corner thereof and the drip pan is inclined sothat all 'condensate will drain into the pipe 38. A pipe 88 connected at the lower part of the condenser 28 is provided for delivering cooling water to the condenser. A pipe 48 connected to the upper part of the condenser is provided for leading cooling water away from the condenser 26.

The frame 2| is provided with suitable cover plates 4i and 42 thereby enclosing the mechanism.

Heretofore it has been customary to connect portable refrigerating devices of this character to water and drain connections bymeans of lengths of hose. One length of hose was connected between the water supply pipes and the condenser and the other between the condenser drain pipe and pipes leading to the sewer. desired to remove the device to another room or portion of the building it was customary to place a large tub or bucket beneath the hose connections after which the hose was disconnected and all of the water in the condenser had to be drained into the bucket or tub before the device could be moved. If the bucket or tub was too small the floor or carpet was usually wet or puddled and .joint therebetwen.

the whele procedure was messy."

These disagreeable features are overcome in the present invention by the provision of a coupling device, one member of which is a permanent fixture in the room and the other a permanent part of the refrigerating device. These members are arranged in the wall or the room andin the device respectively so that when the device is rolled into position the member in the device will match up with the member in the wall of the room.

These members are provided with passages theretnrough through which liquid may pass and each member is provided with a valve adapted to close these passages. The coupling is shown in section in Figure 2 and consists of a member 48 and a cooperating member 44. These members are secured together in cooperative relation by means of bolts 45 shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5.

The member 48 is provided with passages 48, 41 and st passing therethrough. The member 4: is also provided with countersunk portions 48 at adjacent ends of the passages 48, concentric therewith, and adapted to contain suitable gaskets. 58.

vThe member 44 is provided with a plurality of passages 5|, 52 andlie, which, when the members are in cooperative relation, are in line with the passages 48, 41 and 48 respectively. The member 44 is previded with bosses 54, on one phase thereof, concentric with the passages ii, 82 and 58. These bosses are of such diameter that they fit into the countersunk portions 48 of the member 43 and-when" the members 48 and 44 are secured together the gaskets 88 forms sealed .The member 4: is provided with a asses hole 55 preferably at right angles to and communieating with the passages 46, 41 and 48. A tapered plug Siflts the-tapered hole 88 and is provided with cross holes 51. 58 and 58 in line with the passages 46, 41 and 48, thereby forming a valve. The tapered plug is provided with a hexagonal head 68. The opposite end of the tapered plug forms a boss 62 which is threaded to accommodate a nut 83. A suitable washer Si is provided between the face of the member 43 and the nut 88.

when the tapered plug is rotated by means of a suitable tool engaging the hexagonal head 88,

When it was the cross holes ll. 88 and 88 are moved out of engagement with the passages 58, 41 and 48 and solid portions of the ping 88 close the passages. 1

In .other words, the tapered plug is adapted to simultaneously shut 011 all three of the passages. The member 44 is also provided with a tapered hole E4 fitted with a tapered plug 68 similar to as that described for 58.

The construction of the valved coupling members, shown in Figures 1, 6 and 7, is exactly like described for Figures 2, 3, 4 end 5 with the exception that the members themselves are. se-

cured together by other meansthan the bolts 45. The passages through the members and the valves are identical with those shown in Figure 2. The member 43a is provided with bosses I8 and 14.

These bosses are each provided with cross holes in which shouldered pins 15 are pivotally sep- .ported. A link 18 is riveted or otherwise secured to one endof the pin I5 and a link E1 is riveted or otherwise secured to the other end of the pin 15. a

The shouldered pin 18 is riveted or otherwise secured to the'free ends of the links 18 and II forming a pivotal support for the lever I9. The lever 18 is provided with cams 88 adapted to engage cooperative bosses 8| or 82. The bosses 8| and 82 are made integral the member 44a. and are provided with concave depressiens 88 to be engaged by the cams 88.

Referring to Figure 9, when the link lever assembly is swung into position for clamping action and the lever 18 is movedin the direction .of the arrow the 88 engages the concave depressions and as the lever I8 is moved therethrough the members 48a and-44a are tightly clamped together. When in this condition, the links 18 and I1 member up against the sides of the member 44a and as the pin-I8, when the links are in such a position, fall inside the center lines of the pin 18, the lever tends to stay in the lock position.

One of the members may be made a permanent fixture in the wall of a room and its cooperating member a permanent part ofthe refrigerating machine.

it has been found preferable to make the member 4311 a permanent fixture in the wall of a room and to associate the member (1 with the machine. However, the deviceflwill operate equally well if this were reversed.

The member 48-; may have a plate 81 formed integral therewith. The plate 81 may be provided with a connector socket 88 and a connector plug 85 may be supported on the unit 28 in any suitable manner; for instance, by means of a bracket 98. A suitable connecter cord connects the motor 25 to the plug 88 so that'when the unit is rolled into the room and the members are lined connected to a source of current in the building.

A suitable switch '(not shown) may be included in themotor circuit for controlling the motor independently of automatic controls.

A business building or hotel could'hare each room equipped with coupling member 43a and moved associating the members, the valves 60 and 'lil are rotated allowing the passages 46, 41 and 48 to communicate with the passages 52 and 53 via the cross holes 51, 66; 58, 61; 59, 68 respectively The valves 60 and Ill may be provided with arrows or other suitable indicators 84.

The coupling member 4341, permanently associated with the wall of the room, when not in use, may be provided with a suitable cap 85 for closing and sealing the passages, and keeping them clean and free from dust.

The device shown in Figure 11 consists of a coupling member 43b similar to the member 43 with the exception that it is provided with four passages instead of three and the member 4412, which is similar to the member 44 in the same manner. The member 431) is provided with a tapered hole 551), and a tapered plug 56b fitting therein and having cross holesilb, 58b, 59b and 92 formed therein.

A suitable nut head 60b is provided so that the plug 56b may be engaged by a tool and rotated. The plug 56b is held into the member 43b by means of a nut 63b engaging the threaded por tion 62b. A suitable washer Glb is provided between the nut 63b and the member 3b.

The member 43b has passages 46b, 41b, 48b and 93 formed therein adapted to be controlled by the movement of the plug 56b.

The member Mb is provided with a tapered plug 65b having a nut head 'lllb formed thereon and having a reduced threaded portion 69b at the other end thereof. A nut 'llb screwed on to the threaded portion 89b secures the plug 65b in the member 44b, and a suitable washer 12b is pro vided between the nut and the body of .the member 44b. The tapered plug 651; is provided with a plurality of cross holes-66b, 61b, 68b and 9. The bodyMb has a plurality of passages 5Ib, 52b, 53b and 95 controlled by the movement of the tapered plug 65b in the same manner as described for Figure 2.

In this embodiment. the extra passage 93 in the member 43b may be secured to the gas main and the member Mb may form an integral part of a gas-fired refrigerating device; in which case the passage 95 would be connected to the gas burner in such a machine.

When the members 43b and b are placed into cooperative relation and secured together connections are made between the gas burner ,of the device and the gas main, between the condenser and the water supply, between the condenser and the sewer and between the drip pan and the sewer.

Many changes may be made in the device disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is: c 1. In a cooling device for portable refrigerating mechanisms, a coupling comprising two oppositely disposed members each having a plurality of fluid passages formed therein, one of said members being mounted in fixed relation to the plumbing of a building and having one of its passages connected to a source of fluid and another of its passages connected to a drain pipe, and the other of said members being secured to said portable device adapted to utilize said fluid, means for detachably securing said members in cooperative relation, and a multiple valve in each member for simultaneously closing the passages therein to prevent the egress of fluid from any of said passages when said members are disassociated.

2. In a cooling device for portable refrigerating mechanisms, a coupling comprising two oppositely disposed members each having a plurality of fluid passages formed therein, one of said members being mounted in flxed relation to the plumbing of a building and having one ofits passages connected to a source of fluid and the other of said members being secured to said portable device adapted to utilize said fluid, cam means for detachably securing said members in cooperative relation, and a multiple valve in each member for simultaneously closing the passages therein to prevent the egress of fluid from any of said passages when said members are disassociated.

3. In a cooling system for portable refrigerators employing water cooled condensers, a coupling, comprising two oppositely disposed members each having a plurality of fluid passages formed therein, one of said members being secured to said portable refrigerator and having its passages connected to said condenser, the other of said members having one of its passages permanently connected to a source of cooling water and the other of its passages permanently secured to a drain pipe for said water, means for detachably securing said members in cooperative relation, and

a multiple valve in each of said members adapted to close ofi simultaneously all of the passages in its member thereby preventing water from any of said passages from spilling when said members are disassociated prior to the removal of said refrigerator to another ,location.

4. Ina cooling system for portable refrigerators including water cooled condensers, a coupling member having a plurality of fluid passages formed therein and connected to said condenser, a plurality, of cooperative members each in a fixed location and having passages formed therein matching the passages in said-first member, connections between one passage in each of said last members and a source of cooling water, connections between another passage in each of said last me'mbers and a drain pipe for said water, means for detachably securing the member carried by any of said passages from spilling when the detachably secured members are disassociated prior to the removal of said refrigerator to associate its member with another of said second members.

EVERETT S. CA'I'I'ERLIN. 

